Hydraulic clutch



April 1, 1930. G. J. sTRi-:zYNsKl 1,752,862

HYDRAULIC CLUTCH Filed Aug. 12, 1927 yATTORNEYS Panarea Apr. 1, 1930 -NTfoF-Fl-cs GEORGE J. STREZYNSKI, F KINGSTON', NEW YORK HYDRAULIC CLUTCHY Application filed August 12, 1927. serial No. masse. Y

This invention relates to hydraulic clutches, and has for its object the provision of an improved hydraulic clutch. More particularly, my invention relates to an improved hydrau- VI lic clutch which can be operated in suchV manner thatthe pressure supplying medium is kept out of contact with the clutch engaging parts; and which can at the same time be so combined with the driving mechanism as to make for asmall compact machine.

The hydraulic clutches and their associated driving mechanisms, as at present made, have some undesirable features which materially interfere with their eliciency and practicability. For example, they have been s0 constructed thatthe pressure, supplying medium, such as oil, steam, and the like, which engages and disengages the clutches, escapes into the clutches. Thus, in the case of friction clutches the oil 'seeps onto the friction surfaces. This quite naturally sets up slip` page which makes prompt clutching impossible. These clutches are, moreover, so designed that it is impossible to'remove the oil, which has escaped into them, without much diliiculty. In order to clean them, it becomes necessary to shut down the driving mechanism and take the clutches apart. This takes time and thereby reduces the eli'iciency of the machine.

Since hydraulicl clutches are widely used in ships and tugs where space is at a premium, it is also imperative that the clutch engaging parts and their accompanying driving mechanisms take up as little space as possible. It has long been the aim of ships engine designers to further reduce the size of the total driving mechanism and its main supporting castings.

possible to operate hydraulic clutches in such manner that the oilV is kept out of contact with the clutch engaging parts. The size of the entire driving mechanism is also reduced to a minimum. Y

My inventionwill be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the following description, inA which:

In the practice of my invention it becomes.

Fig. 1 is a plan, partly in section of a driv-` ing mechanism and its associated hydraulic clutch in the disengaged clutch position; and

Fig. 2 is a section in part of Fig. 1 showing the clutch in the engaged position. Y t

The main power transmission shaft `10, to which is attached the clutch kpart 11, by means of tap bolts 12, is connectedto an engine (not shown). The clutch engaging member iny cludes two main parts,- one part 13 of which rests within, but is Yadjustably attached, -to my the other part 14. Part 14 is attached to the hollow transmission shaft 15 rby means of tapbolts 16. A-piston-plunger 17 rests within the shaft 15. One end of the plunger 17. presses against the clutch engaging partv 13, l while the other end forms a pistonv head 18 moving within the cylinder 19 formed bythe flared out end of the hollow shaft 15.` The cylinder head 19` is attached to the cylindershaft 15 by means of tap bolts 20. f

A housing 21 rests overthe cylinder headand shaft just described, as well as over the bearings 22 and 23; Gears 24 and 25 are `attached to the shaft 15. .They may be meshe'd with other gears (not shown) to drivethe 75,;

mechanism which ultimately performs theY intended work.

A pipe 26 extends through the housing 21 and the bushing 27, and communicates with the passage 31 in the cylinder head-19. )The 80*` bushing 27 is adapted to rotate'with the cylinder head 19', while the pipe `26 may be" x'ed against rotation.y The piston head 18l contains a compression spring 28, placed in the recess 29,' and against whichrests a ball 85a 30 adapted .to lit' into the oil inlet hole 31 in the cylinder head 19-, when the piston head i is made to contact with,jor is brought in close proximity to, the cylinder head. kept in place by means of the clamp 32 attached to the piston head. The springpressed valve 30 functions to prevent the flow of fluid from the pipe 26 into the cylinderV 19, when the clutch is idle. I 95 The piston head18 is also providedwith a circumferential leathergring 33 which aids in preventing seepage of oil vback of the piston head. The hole 34Yisplaced in the cylinder 19 and providesfor thewithdrawal of,` 10o The ban is o any oil which may escape behind the piston head.

While the piston-plunger 17 is shown as a unitary member, it might well be split in any suitable manner. Thus, the piston head and the piston might be relatively short, while the Y hollowfshaft would be filled throughout a .great part of itslengtli with a separable slidable plunger. The piston-plunger rests against the clutch engaging `part 13.

The clutch engaging part 14 is provided with compression springs 35, resting in` recessed portions thereof, and through which tap bolts 36 lead into and are fastened to the clutch engaging part 13. Whilethe part 13 can 'be moved away from the part llt as the springs are compressed, it is nevertheless attached to the saine'by means of the tapbolts 36, so that therotating movements ofthe two parts will operate simultaneously intliesame direction. The part 14 is provided with a gripping surface 37, similar to the gripping surface 38 on the part`13 ,both of these grip-` pingsurfaees are adapted to bear against op.-

25` posite sides of the clutch part 11.

paratus is as follows y The engine (not shown)` is made toY revolve the main power transmission shaft 10, which at the same time rotates the clutch part 11.` In its normal positiontli'e clutchl engagingY parts 13 and 14 are disengaged from 'part`11'- In order to engage the same, oil is passed through the pipe 26-under pressure'. This oil forces the ball 3()` away from the opening 31, and a flood ofoil escapes into the cylinder 19. It surges against the piston head 18 tosuch an extent thatthe" piston-plunger 17 is moved forward within the hollow shaft 1'5. rlhis movement is sufficient totightly push the" part `13 against the part 11' and to pusiithe pai't 11 against the gripping surface 37, whereby the gripping surfaces 37 and 38 are both made to bear against the part 11. Then 433 this is done, the part 13 and the part 14 are,`

simultaneously made toi'rotate in the same direction. Since the part 14C is attachedto the transmission sha-ft 15, it is also set in motion in the same direction. This', of course, moves theV gears 24 and 25,` which may besuitably meshed with other gears connected to a Vmechanism which is to perform the ultimate vvork.n

If it is desired Vto disengage `the clutch, theA pressure on the oil against the piston head.

is reiea sed. VWhen that is done, the compression springs 35 in the clutch part 14 expandy and `draw the clutch part 13fbaclr against the piston-plunger 17. This results in a movement ofthe piston' headl8 back toward its Y normal position against, or in close proximity to, the cylinder head 19. At the same time,

the ball 30 is tightly pressed against the hole ofv the oil inlet 3,1, whereby the flow of oil into the cylinder 19'l is completely stopped".I

The operation of the above described ap-A turnsthe working gears, it is also evident thattlie whole driving mechanism is liept compact; in this manner reducing its size to a minimum.

Iclaim:

1. Apparatus `of the classdescribed coinprising' a driving member, a transmission shaft mounted adjacent said driving member in spacedrelation thereto and having one or more gears mounted thereon intermediate the ends thereof, a clutch member operatively associated with one end portion of said transmission shaft and adapted to. engage said driving member, and hydraulically operated means associated with the other endl portion of said transmission shaft for mechanically causing said clutch member to engage said driving member. i

2. Apparatus of the 'class described comprising a driving member, a hollow transmission shaft mounted adjacent said driving member in spaced relation thereto and having one or more gearsniounted thereon intermediate tlie ends thereof, a clutch member operatively associated with one end portion of said! transmission shaft andv adapted to engage` "said driving member, mechanical means extending through said transmission shaft forv causing' said clutch member to engage said driving member, and means for moving sai-d clutch member out of engagement with said driving member.

3; Apparatus of the class described comprising a driving member, a hollow shaft mounted adjacent said driving member in spaced relation thereto, a clutch member operatively associated with one end portion of said transmission shaft and adapted to engage said driving member, a cylinder associated with the other end portion of said transmission shaft. a piston mounted Within saidcylinder, a piston rod' attached to said piston and extending through said transmission shaft into contact with said clutchy member, and means for introducing a fluid into said cylinder toA actuate said piston.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a driving member, a hollow shaft mounted adjacent said driving member in spacedrelation thereto, a clutch member slidably mounted on one end portion of-said shaft, a cylinder associated with the other end portion of said shaft, a piston mounted within said cylinder, means for introducing a luid into said cylinder to move said piston,

and means extending through said shaft and contacting with said clutch member to transmit the movement of said piston to said clutch member and move said clutch member into engagement with said driving member.

5.Apparatus of the class described comprising a driving member, a hollow shaft disposed adjacent said driving member in spaced relation thereto, mounted on one end portion of said shaft and adapted to engage said driving member, a cylinder mounted on the other end portion of said shaft in axial alinement therewith, a piston mounted within said cylinder, a piston rod attached to said piston and extending through said shaft into engagement with said clutch member, and means for introducing a Huid into said cylinder to move said piston. 4

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising a driving member, a hollow shaft disposed adjacent said driving member in spaced relation thereto, a clutch member slidably mounted on one end portion of said shaft and adapted to engage said driving member, a cylinder mounted on the other end portion of said shaft in axial alinement therewith, a piston mounted within said cylinder, means for introducing a fluid into said cylinder to move said piston, and means extending through said shaft for transmitting the movement of said piston to said clutch member to cause said clutch member to engage said driving member.

7. Apparatus of the class described comprising a driving member, a hollow shaft disposed adjacent said driving member in spaced relation thereto, a clutch member slidably mounted on one end portion of said shaft, a cylinder formed integrally with the other end portion of said shaft, a piston mounted within said cylinder, a cylinderhead removably mounted on said cylinder, a passage extending through said' cylinder head for the introduction of a fluid into said cylinder to move said piston, a piston rod 'attached to said piston and extending through said shaft into engagement with said clutch member to transmit the movement of said piston to said clutch member and move said clutch member into engagement with said driving member.

8. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a driving member, a hollow transmission shaft disposed adjacent said driving member in spaced relation thereto, a clutch member associated with one end portion of said shaft and adapted to engage said driving member, a cylinder associated with the other end portion of said shaft, a piston, a piston rod attached to said piston and extending through said shaftl into engagement a clutch member slidablyv withl said clutch member, a passage for introducing: a iuidinto said cylinder, vand :means associated vwith said piston forclosingf' said passage. VI l' 71 f 9. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a driving member, Va hollow transmission shaft disposed'adjacent saiddriving member in spaced relation-f thereto, a clutch memberl associated with. one? :Vend portion of said shaft and adapted `to engageisaid driving' member, i a cylinder *associated 'with the'other end portion of saidsliaft,-apistom o i.

a piston rod attached to saidpiston'fand extending through'said shaft into engagement with said clutch member, a'passage forintroducing a fluid into said cylinder, and a springpressed valve associatedwith said piston for closing said passage. f

10. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a driving member, a'hollow transmission shaft disposed adjacent said driving `member in spaced relation thereto, a clutch member associated with one end portion of said shaft and adapted to engage said driving member, a cylinder associated with the other end portion of said shaft, a piston, a piston rod attached to said piston and eX- tending through said shaft into engagement with said clutch member, a passage for introducing a Huid into said cylinder adjacent one end thereof, and a passage for draining fluid from said cylinder adjacent the other end thereof.

11. In a device of the class described, a cylinder, a piston mounted within said cylinder, a passage extending through one end Wall ofsaid cylinder for the introduction of a fluid, and means associated with said piston for closing said passage when the piston is adjacent thereto but being ineffective to close the passage when the piston is otherwise positioned.

12. In a device of the class described, a cylinder, a piston mounted within said cylinder,

a passage extending through one end wall ofv said piston for closing said passage when theV piston is adjacent thereto but being ineffective to close the passage when the piston is otherwise positioned.

13. In a device of the class described, a cylinder, a piston mounted within said cylinder. a passage for introducing a fluid into said cylinder adjacent one end thereof, a springpressed valve associated with said piston for closing said inlet passage, anda passage for withdrawing fluid from said cylinder adjacent the otherend thereof.

14. In a device of theclass described. a driving member, a transmission shaft disposed adjacent said driving member, an outer clutch member having a portion rigidly` secured to said transmission shaft, said clutch ed to engage a face of said driving member, a second clutchmember slidably mounted Within said outer clutch member and having a portion adapted to engage another face ofsaid driving member, said second clutch member being provided with a Ahub keyed to the portion of the outer clutch member which is rigidly secured to the shaft, mechanical means arranged longitudinally of the shaft and adapted to be moved with `respect thereto for causing the movement of said inner clutch member to effect engagement with said driving member, fluid operated i means cooperating Wi'th said mechanical means remote from the inner clutch member'for eeoting the movement thereof, and means tending to resist such movement.

In testimony whereof l ailiX my signature.

GEORGE J. STREZYNSKI. 

